ktgumbo

Hey guys my parent are looking for a new vehicle, and they would like to spend roughly $35kish out the door.

The cars that i can think of include:
Lexus ES330
Infiniti G35
Maybe C240 or C320
Audi A4 3.0

An SUV would be nice, but the RX330 and the MDX are all about $40kish. What other cars can you think of, or have any experience with.
Thanks

123456SPEED

The name of this forum has Acura in it, not looking at the very nice 04 TL? You should. It's a great car. Forget MB, cost and reliabilty, Lexus, really boring, Infiniti better, but not as refined as the TL, Audi- overpriced, smaller, reliability.
I guess they want rear wheel drive, but the TL is a better car than most of those you mention IMO, for features, reliabilty, in their price range.

ktgumbo

Well my mom has a 2001 TL, and have my 2001 CL, i guess wanted to try something differernt. Between the 3 of us, we have gone through 6 Tranny's!

4 From my CL( u can see from my sig)
1 From my new CL.
1 From her TL!

darrinb

wow thats alot of tranny's
maybe u should try the chrysler 300c

95gt

Dude what do you guys do to your cars? The odd's of both of you having the same issues are ridiculously small. Weird

Check it out, if they don't like it it cost you nothing. That tl is light years nicer than the old TL/cl.

Mercedes = no

Since it is parents a ES330 may be nice (very quiet and comfortable). Audi = overpriced for what you get.

Infiniti is very nice (M45, may be able to get a killer deal on one right now).

What about the new 300 ? Sweet looking car and what an engine

ktgumbo

Ya but the ES is outta their price range. Those start at like $45k i believe.

95gt

Uhm you have it in your original post? Not sure which car you are talking about. ES competes with TL/G/9-3 etc

Chaptorial

For that price range a G35 sedan would be a great choice. The ES line is so damn .


A 2004 ES has an MSRP of $32,350.


Premium Package - $570

- In-dash, single-feed, six-disc CD auto-changer



Navigation System Package - $2,220

- Lexus DVD Navigation System (vehicles equipped with navigation system do not include a cassette player) [3]

- Six-disc CD auto-changer in center console



Navigation System/Mark Levinson® Audio System Package - $3,120

- Lexus DVD Navigation System (vehicles equipped with navigation system do not include a cassette player) [3]

- Mark Levinson® [4] seven-speaker 240-watt [5] Premium Audio System with six-disc CD auto-changer in center console



ES SportDesign Edition - $600

- Exterior available in Black Onyx and Special Edition colors Graphite Gray Pearl and Thundercloud Metallic

- Black or Light Charcoal leather-trimmed interior

- Black Bird's-Eye Maple interior trim (including steering wheel and shift knob)

- Exclusive channel-spoked alloy wheels with high-gloss finish

- Black Pearl rear emblems

- Exterior SportDesign badging

- SportDesign carpeted floor mats


Individual Factory Options

- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) (with Traction Control [TRAC] and Brake Assist) - $650

- Four-wheel Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) - $620

- Power rear sunshade - $210

- High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with dynamic auto leveling (includes rain-sensing variable intermittent wipers) - $640

- Wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob - $330

- Two-stage heated front seats - $440

- All-season tires (no cost option)

- Lexus Chrome Wheels (available only with all-season tires) - $1,700

- Power-adjustable accelerator/brake pedals with memory - $140

ktgumbo

MY bad, I was thinking the Mercedes Benz E class was what he was refering 2!

Ya the Lexus ES is the best one in my opinion.

TypeSAddict

How about a TL 6 speed?

goldmemberer

Family car, brother. Doubt someone wants to row their own gears.

ktgumbo

The G35 that i just prices online was $34kw/o fees at MSRP. IM sure that i can prob get like $1500 of that price atleast. Does anyone know if they are firm on the Sedans, cause i dont think they would be?

Also has anyone ever used .www.carsdirect.com Their prices seems really good. Some of them are below invovice. My friend bought a Solara last night and the dealer matched the online price. U guys should check it out.

RandyMax

Hemi baby.

Either that or the G35.

Scrib

You can get money off the G35 sedan. No problemo.

mark_12345

Have the same dilemma... I looked at the new TL too and it is VERY nice. However, I'm sacrificing a little reliability for something different so I'm thinking of going with Audi 3.0 Quattro.

The Audi is a nice overall package that looks great both interior and exterior. Quattro is a plus too.

The Lexus ES and MB C Class are very boring IMO - they just shout out blah blah blah.

The other alternative is the G35...

JRock

I was looking at the A4 3.0 Quattro and it's just way way too much money for a car the size of a TSX with not much more performance from the engine even though it is a V6. I certainly can't justify $10k more than the TSX for it.

123456SPEED

Oh, I can see why they want a change. Luckliy I have never had issues with any of the 4 Acuras 1 Honda, I've had, but 3 were manual shifters.

CLUofI

s60, 9-3 or 9-5,

J.T.'s 3.2CL

G35 is a sweet deal.

BigB270

New TL or G35/C

fast_daddy_car

I am also looking at the Audi 3.0 quattro to replace my cl-s.
I would hold off on the first year TL. There are many a problem listed over at the tl site. And I would wait at least a year or more to see if that tranny has problems.

carquest

the Mercedes C class seems to have plenty of quality/reliability issues. i was looking at them as well, but i'm not impressed. if you search on the web in MB forums you'll find lots of unhappy MB C class owners. it seems to be a poor choice.

the lexus may be fine but...... the '03 and earlier ES300s have serious engine problems. they develop "sludge" in the engine due to oil boiling and re-condensing into a gelatin which plugs up the oil passages. the engines then seize. toyota/lexus has an "extended warranty" for 7 yrs 70K or 100K or maybe unlimited milage to replace engines w/ rebuit units. this applies to the camry's, ES300s, RX300s, any of the front wheel drive 3.0 liter V6 engines. the '04s have 3.3 liter V6 engines based on the 3.0 liter V6. its not clear that the design problem has been resolved. i don't think it will be clear for another 6 months to a year. if its still a problem toyota will be replacing 3.3 liter engines for siezing as well.

you might check out a used ('02 or '03) lexus GS300. this uses the old supra in-line 6. both the engine and entire car seem to have a very good reliability history. you might also try the IS300. it also uses the same in-line 6. although its still relatively new and its reliability history has yet to be established.

good luck.

jts1207

If I had to go 4 dr it would be the TL

zamo

loaded Maxima

ferizzo

g35 from the list you have. I'd think about the TL as well although after 6 trannies I understand. A4 is a sharp looking sedan but too small and underpowered for me. I'd go with the G35.

Oh and 95gt, doesn't have anything to do with how the cars were driven because my wife's tranny in her accord died as did mine on the TLS. I admit I drive hard but my wife rarely does and I didn't drive her car often enough and rarely hard (as I am more conscious when driving her car) to cause the tranny to fail.

ktgumbo

No kidding my mom is the type of driver with "both hands on the wheel" while driving. I dont think she has gone over 3000 RPM's.

Linner

My freind just got the audi a4 3.0 6 speed, I like i talot especially the all wheel drive, screw teh g35 too many people have it

95gt

A4 is a nice car but man i see those everywhere. A lot more than i seem to see the G.

Isn't that thing closer to 40k anyway with any options?

bsprinker

I'm with carquest...If I (or my parents) needed a $35k car right now, I would probably have an '02 Lexus GS on the top of my list. They are sswweeeeettttt cars. The only bad thing for me would be knowing that the GS430 exists and wanting the V8 instead...but that's more money.

Seriously, I would drive a TL, G35, and used GS300...and maybe a used A6, too. But with any german car, I would not buy it without an extended warranty. Give your parents those options and let them pick. Just make sure you fill them in on all the pros and cons for each vehicle.

P.S. I love the GS430!!! If I needed a four-door car, that is exactly what I would buy. I don't care if they are changing the body style in '05, it is still awesome.

ferizzo

I couldn't get a GS3, only a GS4 for me. If you have wiggle room try and get a used GS400 (2001) or GS430 (2002) for under 40k....you might be able to find one. I almost got one of those before I bought the TLS but at the time a good was still in the high 30s and low thirties was my ceiling.

dgracer

You dont really list what attributes they are looking for in the car. Ride, handling, room??? The Lexus will be the softest of the bunch and is pretty roomy. My boss has one. It seems numb to the touch which seems to be what older folks like anyway. The Audi will be much smaller, especially in the back seat. The Audi would be the next car that rides nicest, then the TL (which seems to me to be as stiff as the former Type-S), then the G35, which some complain is too stiff.

ktgumbo

I guess a entry level luxury, 4door, leather, auto, etc car. Sorry if I was not speciific enough. The GS style is all the way from 1997 i believe, that is Y i would not buy it. I do not understand Y it took Lexus 6 years to redesign it, especialyl since sales have dropped after 2001 or so.

RavinGAzN

Id go with the ES

pgt89

I don't know why but I would look into that new 300C with the HEMI.

pgt89

AHH! WTF!!?? I just reccommended a friggin' Chrysler/MB.

bsprinker

If I had the cash for a third car, like an S2000 or 350 roadster, I would be driving a GS430 as a daily driver. Then I wouldn't care if it was soft compared to some of the other cars in it's class. Either way, I still love it. The GS's are soooo plush inside...So easy to drive and cruise in.

But not to highjack your thread, dude. I stand on my previous statement, which included giving your parents their best options of the TL, Audi (either new A4 or used A6), G35, Lexus GS, and I will also add the new Maxima, since that car is pretty cool, too. If you give your parents those choices and they choose one of these cars, they can't go wrong. And, oh, I don't know if I would recommend the Chrysler 300C...They just came out and I don't know much about them. I'm not dissing them; just not that familiar with them yet. So I won't pass judgement or recommend it to anyone until I see/ride/drive one. Good luck!! I LOVE car shopping. It is SO much fun, IMO.